A SUSPENDED jail sentence has been handed to a thief who headbutted a man trying to help shop staff stop the theft.

Kyle Jones, 24, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (June 20) for one count of theft and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court that Jones had headbutted victim Kevin Crossan on October 11 last year after he tried to make off from a Co-Op store with over £100 of goods.

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Mr Crossan, who had tried to stop Jones, said it took seven weeks for his injuries to heal following the incident.

Jones, of John Morris Road, Abingdon, was handed a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

During the sentencing, it was heard that Jones had filled up a trolley full of alcohol and goods at the store in Savile Way, Grove.

As he made off with the trolley, being pursued by staff, it tipped over and he tried to right it but staff and nearby neighbour Mr Crossan stopped him.

Jones fled to Mr Crossan’s garden with about £25 worth of the stolen items. Staff had recovered the remaining goods which equalled £100.44.

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While in Mr Crossan’s garden, the defendant was asked to leave and pushed by Mr Crossan when he refused.

Jones then headbutted the victim ‘four to five times’ until a plumber, who was working in Mr Crossan’s house at the time, was able to intervene.

The defendant could be heard shouting: “I know where you live,” as he left the garden.

He was arrested later that day after running from police.

The court heard he has nine convictions for 15 previous offences.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Crossan said: “I’m so shocked that an individual can be so nasty so quickly.

“Since this incident, I’m not longer as self-assured as I used to be, I’ve lost a lot of confidence. I don’t feel very happy or safe.

“I’m always looking out my window to make sure no one is out there. I would stay up all night making sure he didn’t come back.”

Defending Jones, his barrister Alice Aubrey-Fletcher said it was a case of ‘excessive self-defence’ and suggested that Mr Crossan had punched her client ‘several times’ before Jones responded in an ‘excessive way’.

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“It was impulsive, spontaneous and excessive self-defence,” she said.

As well as his suspended sentence, he was ordered to complete 30 sessions of a specified programme, five rehabilitation activity days and six months of mental health treatment.

“You’re on your last chance,” added Judge Hassan Khan.